France Charges 25 in Crypto Kidnapping Cases Linked to Exchange CEO’s Family

French prosecutors have indicted 25 individuals, including six minors, for involvement in a series of cryptocurrency-related kidnappings across Paris. The charges stem primarily from a failed May 13 abduction attempt targeting the daughter and grandson of Paymium CEO Pierre Noizat. Authorities are investigating connections to earlier thwarted kidnappings, including an incident NEAR Nantes.

The arrests follow a disturbing pattern of crypto-linked abductions in France this year. In May, the father of a French crypto millionaire was taken hostage, while Ledger co-founder David Ballard and his wife endured a brutal kidnapping in January. Both cases involved severed fingers used as ransom leverage.

France’s Interior Ministry convened crypto industry leaders in May to address security concerns following these high-profile incidents. The suspects in the Paymium case range from 16 to 23 years old, reflecting youth involvement in these crypto-targeted crimes.